Cleome plant named ‘Creme de la Creme’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Cleome plant, ‘Creme de la Creme’, that is characterized by its variegated foliage with leaflets that are green with margins that is creamy white in color, its flowers that fuchsia pink in color, its plant height of 60 to 91 cm, and its thick stems and have sharp spines at the base of the leaflets.

Botanical classification: Cleome hassleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Creme de la Creme’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cleomehassleriana and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name,‘Creme de la Creme’. ‘Creme de la Creme’ represents a new cultivar ofCleome, an annual grown for landscape use.

‘Creme de la Creme’ was discovered by the Inventor in June of 2016 as anaturally occurring meristematic mutation of a seedling grown fromunnamed seeds of Cleome hassleriana that was growing in a field inWinsted, Conn.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by stem cuttings in Kensington, Conn. in June of 2016. Asexualpropagation by stem cuttings has shown that the characteristics of thenew cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘Creme de la Creme’ as a unique cultivar ofCleome.

-   -   1. ‘Creme de la Creme’ exhibits variegated foliage with leaflets        that are green with margins that is creamy white in color.    -   2. ‘Creme de la Creme’ exhibits flowers that fuchsia pink in        color.    -   3. ‘Creme de la Creme’ exhibits a plant height of 60 to 91 cm.    -   4. ‘Creme de la Creme’ exhibits thick stems and have sharp        spines at the base of the leaflets.

The parent plant of ‘Creme de la Creme’ differs from ‘Creme de la Creme’in having all green, non-variegated foliage. ‘Creme de la Creme’ can bemost closely compared to the Cleome seed strains ‘Mauve Queen’ (notpatented) and ‘Cherry Queen’ (not patented). ‘Mauve Queen’ and ‘CherryQueen’ are both similar to ‘Creme de la Creme’ in flower color, growthhabit and leaf shape. ‘Mauve Queen’ and ‘Cherry Queen’ both differ from‘Creme de la Creme’ in having non-variegated leaves and flower colorsthat varies. ‘Creme de la Creme’ can also be compared to the cultivar‘Robspidam’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,933). ‘Robspidam’ is similar inflower color, but differs from ‘Creme de la Creme’ in havingnon-variegated foliage and larger inflorescences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Cleome plant about 2 months inage as grown outdoors in plug trays in Kensington, Conn.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a number of plant in bloom of‘Creme de la Creme’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Creme de la Creme’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Creme de la Creme’. The colors in the photograph may differ slightlyfrom the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Cleome.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observedon 4-month-old plants of the new Cleome as grown outdoors in 5-inchcontainers in Kensington, Conn. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmentalconditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Early summer to first frost in Kensington,            Conn.        -   Plant type.—Annual.        -   Plant habit.—Upright and bushy.        -   Height and spread.—27 cm in height and 13 cm in spread on            the potted plant used for data collection, mature height in            a garden of 60 to 91 cm.        -   Cold hardiness.—Not hardy, grown as an annual.        -   Diseases and pests.—Cleome hassleriana is known to be            generally free of disease and pest problems and no problems            to either diseases or pests has been observed for the new            cultivar, because there are no known causative agents known            to be a problem for Cleome, no resistance to a particular            agent can be claimed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, 155A.        -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Root development.—Roots initiate in 2 to 3 weeks, rooted            stem cuttings will fully root as a young plant in 4 to 6            weeks.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—145A, tinged at base and top 183A.        -   Stem size.—Average of 27 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Densely covered with very short stiff hairs;            average of 0.5 mm in length and NN155D in color.        -   Stem strength.—Sturdy, strong.        -   Stem aspect.—Held upright nearly vertical.        -   Internode length.—Average of 1 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Stems arise from base, an average of 1 to 2            branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; palmately compound with seven            leaflets per leaf (occasionally 5).        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Leaf size.—Whole leaf size; average of 10 cm in length, 9 cm            in length.        -   Leaflet size.—Center leaflet; 6.5 cm in length and 2 cm in            width, lateral leaflets; 5 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width,            lower leaflets; 2.5 cm in length and 1 cm in width.        -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptical.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.        -   Leaflet texture.—Both surfaces dull and rough to the touch,            covered with minute stiff pubescence.        -   Leaflet spine.—Average of 3 mm in length, very thin and            linear in shape, 155B in color, glabrous surface.        -   Leaflet attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf color.—Young leaflets upper and lower surface; slightly            variegated with centers N144A and 143A and margins 141A and            lightly flushed with 79D, mature leaflets upper and lower            surface; variegated with centers 145A to 145B and margins            155A, tinged with 79C at the leaf attachment.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single flowers arranged in short            terminal racemes.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 4 cm in height and 5 cm in            width.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower lastingness.—Single flowers last an average of 1            week.        -   Flower buds.—Average of 1.5 cm in length, 4 mm in diameter,            linear in shape, color a blend of NN78A and N77A at the tip.        -   Flower size.—An average of 3 cm in depth and width.        -   Petals.—4, in a single whorl, average of 2 cm in length, 1            cm in width, elliptical in shape, broadly acute apex,            attenuate base, entire margins, upper and lower surface            texture is smooth, glabrous and velvety, color when opening            upper and lower surface; a blend of 71A and 76C, margins            76C, base 72A, color when fully open upper and lower            surface; NN78A, light overlay of 79C in the middle, 77B and            79A at base, veins N74A, upper and lower surface fading to            N75A at tips to mid section and 75C at petal base and            margins.        -   Sepals.—5, in a single whorl, average of 2 mm in length, 0.5            mm in width, lanceolate. in shape, acute apex, truncate            base, entire margins, upper and lower surface texture is            glabrous, both surfaces 79A in color.        -   Peduncles.—Average of 2 cm in length, 1 mm in width, surface            is moderately pubescent, slightly glossy, 142A to 142C,            flushed with N77A towards the top.        -   Flower bracts.—4, in a single whorl, average of 9 mm in            length, 2 mm in width, lanceolate in shape, acute apex,            truncate base, entire margins, upper and lower surface            texture is smooth, margins densely covered with minute            hairs, both surfaces 11C in color.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, up to 5 cm in length, long and            extended, stigma; round, N79A in color 1 mm in diameter,            style; 2.8 cm in length, a blend of 83A and 61A in color,            ovary; 2 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter, 145B in color.        -   Androecium.—Stamens; 6, filament; 5 cm in length, 0.5 mm in            width, NN78A in color anther; linear, 79A in color, 5 mm in            length, 0.5 mm in width, pollen; moderate in quantity, 164A            in color.        -   Fruit.—Average of 5 cm in length, 3 mm in diameter, linear            in shape, slightly glossy and glabrous surface, a blend of            160A and 146A in color.        -   Seeds.—Average of 50, circular and spiral in shape, average            of 2 mm in diameter, glossy and glabrous, 145B in color.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Cleome plant named‘Creme de la Creme’ as described and illustrated herein.